New treatments offer hope for people with Hepatitis C - once considered incurable.
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Now, scientists hope to wipe out the liver disease within a decade.
Sunday, July 28 is World Hepatitis Day and healthcare workers are urging hep C sufferers to take advantage of simple cures which have helped 95 per cent of patients.
Once only treatable with drugs carrying ugly side effects, science has gained the upper hand on the infectious disease.
Health workers are urging anyone living with hep C, or who thinks they may have it, to get tested and start treatment.
"NSW is moving closer to eliminating hepatitis C, with research showing more than 22,000 people across the state have been cured of the virus, using new easy-to-take treatments," a health department spokesperson said.
Alison Nikitas said new medications were very effective, with a cure rate of 95 per cent.
"The treatments can be prescribed by any GP and can cure the virus within eight to 12 weeks," she said.
"They also have minimal or no side-effects."
Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said NSW was moving to eliminating the disease.
"We're aiming to eliminate hepatitis C within the next 10 years," Dr Chant said.
"Thanks to groundbreaking medications, the elimination of hepatitis C is now an achievable goal."
The department said about 29 per cent of people estimated to be living with hepatitis C in NSW, or 23,652 people, had now been treated. About 58,000 people across the state were yet to seek treatment.
"For each patient cured, the NSW healthcare savings are $1,612 per year," the department said.
"This equates to $82 million in savings and more than 22,000 patients cured since the new treatments became available in 2016."
Hepatitis NSW CEO, Stuart Loveday, said new oral pill treatments were revolutionary compared to the previous combined pill and injection treatments which took longer, had more side-effects and lower cure rates.
"It's so important that people see their GP to get treated if they think they might have hepatitis C," he said.
"Initially, there are almost no symptoms but if left untreated, hepatitis C can ultimately result in significant liver disease."
For more information on testing, treatment, and prevention for hepatitis C call the Hepatitis Infoline on 1800 803 900 or visit hepc.org.au.
